Domaine Jean Grivot's origins can be traced back to the French Revolution, when the family moved to Vosne-Romanée and began planting vines in the esteemed region. Beginning in the 1980s, Etienne Grivot took leadership at the estate after his father passed away, marking a new era which saw the domaine reach the peak of Burgundy's wine industry. Additional land acquisition in Grand Cru vineyards Richebourg, Vougeot, and Chambolle-Musigny cemented its place as a regional staple.
Jean Grivot Wines: Family Beginnings in Vosne-Romanée
The Grivot family began its winemaking journey in the Jura region in the mid-17th century before relocating to Vosne-Romanée just prior to the French Revolution. While the family's winemaking history can be traced back to its Italian roots, they did not officially open a winery until the early 1900s, when Gaston Grivot sold land to purchase a vineyard in Clos de Vougeot in 1919. From its inception until 1955, Gaston led the helm at the estate, though the reins were eventually passed to his son, Jean, after his passing. Here, Domaine Jean Grivot attained its current name and maintained a position as an underrated producer in the fierce competition of Burgundy's winemaking scene.
"From 0 to 30, you learn. From 30 to 60, you have the responsibility. After that you support" - Etienne Grivot
30 years later, however, Etienne Grivot took ownership of Domaine Jean Grivot, doubling the estate's land holdings by purchasing prestigious Grand Cru plots. Slowly, the estate grew into one of Burgundy's most respected names with elegant pinot noir displaying a unique character. This signature character is now being marshalled by Etienne's daughter Mathilde, who has catapulted Jean Grivot beyond Burgundy and into the global wine spotlight. Its recent, consistent positions in the Liv-ex Power 100 Rankings illustrate its position as a global wine powerhouse.
Domaine Jean Grivot Terroir and Winemaking
Grivot harnesses the power of each terroir through organic farming and dense vine plantings, ensuring that the vines are in competition, which leads to higher-quality fruit and lower yields. With over 15 hectares of land in 22 appellations, it is crucial for the estate to individually farm each plot to fully express the terroir. One of the estate's top plots is its 1.87 hectares in the Grand Cru vineyard Clos de Vougeot. After years of experimenting on the land, the Grivot family discovered it best to blend all grapes from each location of the vineyard rather than separating each plot into different bottles. The results have been fantastic, producing pinot noir with outstanding depth of concentration and ripeness.
Meticulous thought and care are put into the winemaking process to achieve these fantastic results, as each fruit is destemmed, followed by 5 to 7 days of pre-fermentation, maceration at 12-15 degrees Celsius, and aging in 40% new oak barrels. The Grivots have become infamous for staying true to family traditions and avoiding fashionable trends. The focus for each bottle is suavity and energy, as the Grivots believe winemakers should not cater to the overripe and sweet tastes of consumers, with Etienne going so far as to state, "it’s a mistake to give pleasure at any cost."
Experience Jean Grivot Pinot Noir Today
As one of Burgundy's premier producers, Jean Grivot wines offer an accessible price point for many wine drinkers, uncharacteristic for many of its competitors. Over the last 3 decades, the wines have become a critic's favorite, consistently earning 90+ point scores and gaining a reputation as investment gold for their incredible aging opportunity. Prices will only go up for this producer — act fast now and add a bottle to your collection today.
